Marcedes Lewis physically left Long Beach, first for Westwood and then for Jacksonville, but he’s emotionally tied to Long Beach as firmly as the Queen Mary.

He bought a home here after he signed his first pro contract and lives here in the offseason, not far from his parents and his friends from his halcyon Poly High days when he was part of perhaps the most successful run of Jackrabbit teams ever.

Lewis was a Poly student-

athlete from 1998 to 2001, a two-time All-CIF choice, and co-Offensive Player of the Year in 2001. In his four seasons in the program, the Jackrabbits went 52-2-1, winning two CIF titles outright, sharing one with Mater Dei and reaching the title game the other year.

Lewis took a lot of awards with him. Now he’s giving back to the community.

He is holding his first football camp for kids 9-to-17 Saturday at Long Beach State, a five-hour assembly in which he and friends will talk to kids about football and hold clinic sessions on proper techniques. Each participant will receive lunch and a t-shirt and the chance to say they received some personal instruction from one of the best tight ends in the NFL.

He’s launched his own foundation (marcedeslewisfoundation.org) that will combine sports development with academics and add fundraisers to go with the annual camp.

“This is the first chance I’ve had the time to give back to the community,” Lewis said Tuesday. “I’m really looking forward to it. It’s good to give back. I’ve always wanted to do something like this. I’m not going to be one of those guys who stands to the side and doesn’t interact. I’ll be hands-on teaching.

“Even when I was growing up, I liked doing things for younger kids in the community because of all the help I received when I was a kid. Darnell Bing and I played on the same Pop Warner team since we were eight, so we know how important those programs and free clinics can be.

“This community gave me the opportunity to be in the position I’m in.”

Lewis went from Poly to an All-American career at UCLA. In his 2005 finale, he posted school records in receptions (58), yards (741) and touchdowns (10) for a tight end and left with the career record in all three categories. He was the school’s first ever winner of the John Mackey Award that goes to the nation’s finest tight end.

He was a first-round pick by Jacksonville in 2006 and was a starter by season’s end. In 2007, he had 37 catches and last year jumped to 41 for 489 yards while also giving the Jags a broader look with the 6-foot-6, 275-pounder’s speed and ability to play in the slot or as a flex end.

“It’s helped that I’ve always been able to do different things in football,” Lewis said. “I was a quarterback my freshman year and was moved to tight end as a sophomore. It wasn’t in my plans to be blocking defensive ends, but I was able to do so and eventually was able to spread out and play receiver.

“That helped me in college because by my last two years at UCLA I was being used in the same way. That helped me in the pros where tight ends are expected to be able to flex from tight to a slot or wide out. It’s like I’ve been working with the same blueprint for my entire career.”

What’s really intriguing to note is the success Lewis has had in the pros in comparison to his four good friends and fellow Poly seniors in 2001.

Hershel Dennis, Winston Justice, Manuel Wright and Bing went to USC as a package deal while Lewis resisted the pull to do likewise and stuck with his decision to play at UCLA.

That quartet enjoyed national chills and thrills at USC. Lewis was able to end his career with a 10-2 season in 2005. The pro divide has been one-sided.

Wright left USC early for the NFL and flopped, playing nine games in three seasons before being released. Dennis missed two college seasons, one for an off-field incident and one because of injury, and is out of football. Justice lost a season at USC, too, and he’s made just one start in three seasons with the Eagles. Bing’s tremendous potential has been held back by injuries. He finally got into his first NFL game in the Detroit Lions’ finale last season after three years of pain and rehab.

Lewis was a key part of the Jags’ 11-5 mark in 2007. The Jags suffered last season at 5-11, but Lewis had four or more catches in five of their last eight games including a career-high six against Indianapolis.

If the Jags utilize him more and pump up his numbers, he’ll start to be noted in the same conversation as tight ends like Tony Gonzalez, Dan Witten and Antonio Gates.

“Honestly, I was always a leader, never a follower,” Lewis said. “I have a lot of respect for (his Poly friends who went to USC) them. They made their decision and it never weighed on my mind. I was going to do what was best for me, and that was UCLA – the whole atmosphere, socially, the chance to play football and basketball.

“My mom and stepfather were supportive of me and it’s the school they were comfortable with, which was important.

“I’m a hard worker, and no one can take away my work ethic. That alone helped me on this ride. But it was easier with the people around me. I’ve been blessed with support from my family and the chance to be around great coaches (at all levels) who helped make me the best player I could be.”

A player who also understands that he can be a part of that support system now for a new generation of young Long Beach football players.